Fast August!

Wheh! August has flown by. Yesterday, we celebrated Aksel's 6th birthday with a Pirate Pool Party. After a 40 minute serious fret session because the chlorine levels were "off" in the pool and swimming was not permitted, we finally opened the floodgates and the many bodies leapt in squealing with glee. We had to entertain 14 small sweaty bodies on the pool deck, and I've never been so happy that I overpurchased for a birthday party. I bought a pirate pinata, and that filled a good 25 minutes.

Today the boys are taking their second piano lesson with Mr. Perez. He's a great teacher: encouraging Lachen's diligent work ethic and managing Aksel's exuberance. And, we inherited an old St. Mark's piano, so now the boys can actually learn a thing or two about dynamics.

Our friends from Minnesota Mike and Amy are coming into town tonight. Shawn's charge today is to find a good restaurant in Boston--no easy task because there are so many to choose from. Signe Jordet came for a visit last weekend. She blended right into our family and before the first day was over, the boys had hauled her upstairs to see their latest set-ups. Shawn and I enjoyed an amazing meal in south Boston with John and Christine: Shawn had seared tuna and I relished a blackened salmon. Ah, the seafood! Still, it may be time for school to start to keep us out of the restaurants. 'Taint free!

Shawn closed out his softball season with a dignified 2nd place finish. The best part of the game is the after-game time. The sons of the players have had endless fun running the bases and racing around the outfield with all the other little boys while the Gravediggers enjoy their 10th inning in a cool can. It's a good crew of people: some who have lived in Southborough for generations, others transplants from the Midwest.

Along with the pool party pictures, I added a shot of the boys at Grandma and Grandpa Reid's house where they had a joint birthday party with their Reid cousins and family. Fun times!